In the first eight months of this year the number of tourist arrivals increased by seven per cent and that of overnight accommodation bookings by eight per cent when compared to the same period last year, which shows that Croatia is a safe and attractive destination, Kalmeta said at a press conference in Zagreb marking World Tourism Day.
He said that Croatia needed new, especially "greenfield", investments in the tourism sector that would help increase the volume of tourist trade, and that it was necessary to continue the privatisation of tourism firms and to review earlier privatisation agreements.
Kalmeta announced a new law on land for tourism purposes, saying that it would promote new investment, and a study of development of boating tourism and the impact of the tourist industry on the national economy.
The minister went on to say that the steps taken by the government to prevent illegal chartering and accommodation rental had produced good results, as had the introduction of differentiated Value Added Tax rates for tourism.
Asked to comment on the possible withdrawal of the British-American Tobacco (BAT) group from the Zadar tobacco factory TDZ, Kalmeta said that BAT had invested 500 million kuna and encountered various problems.
"I do not want to comment on court judgements, but it seems that the judgement rendered by the High Commercial Court (annulling the financial restructuring of the factory) will lead to BAT's withdrawal from TDZ and Croatia," the minister said.